The 10 Best Pet Stain Removers

For most homes with a dog or cat, Rocco & Roxie Eliminator is the one bottle to keep under the sink. Its enzymes break down urine, vomit and feces on carpet, floors, furniture and bedding, and the formula is free of chlorine and safe on colors. It has a long record with pet owners, and it does especially well on cat urine. The catch is cost: it's pricey per ounce, and a big accident can drain a bottle fast.

Dog owners on a budget should start with Nature's Miracle Urine Destroyer Plus, from one of the oldest names in enzyme cleaners. The label's method is simple: soak the spot, wait about 15 minutes, then blot it with a clean cloth. The enzymes keep working as long as anything organic is left to digest. It's made for dog urine, so cat homes should get the cat version, and the essential-oil scent won't suit every nose.

You can find Resolve Urine Destroyer in almost any grocery or big-box store, and it costs little for a big bottle. It's made for carpet, area rugs and upholstery, and it lifts the stain along with the smell of urine, feces and vomit. Treated spots tend to dry within half an hour. It isn't meant for hard floors, the maker says little about what's in it, and the trigger can feel flimsy.

Old spots that keep coming back to life are the job for Simple Solution Extreme. The maker says this enzyme blend is three times as strong as its regular formula, and it's meant for fresh and set-in stains on carpet, upholstery, bedding and fabric toys. A nozzle that twists between mist, foam and stream lets you soak deep pile or just dampen a cushion. The bottle is U.S.-made. The scent is strong and hangs around for a while.

When the color of a mark bothers you more than the smell, Bissell Pet Pro Oxy works fast. It uses oxygen cleaners instead of enzymes, so it lifts mud, blood, food and urine marks from carpet and upholstery within moments, with no scrubbing and no sticky film left behind. Each sale helps fund the Bissell Pet Foundation, which supports shelters. It won't digest odor deep in the pad, and the sprayer can quit on some bottles.

Puracy Stain & Odor Remover is a plant- and mineral-based enzyme spray for people who read the back of the bottle. It needs no rinsing and works on carpet, upholstery and bedding, with a light cucumber and mint scent. Puracy publishes what goes into its cleaners and offers a satisfaction guarantee, which helps if your nose disagrees. It's expensive for the amount you get, and a large accident goes through a bottle quickly.

Families who want a plant-based cleaner without enzymes can look at Skout's Honor Stain Remover. Plant-derived soaps lift the stain while a deodorizer breaks down the smell on contact, and it's fine on any surface that can get wet, including white carpet and wool rugs. The company donates pet food to shelters for each bottle sold. Since it doesn't digest urine, a spot that soaked into the pad can need a few rounds.

Homes with several pets, or one pet with frequent accidents, get the most from Biokleen Bac-Out in its gallon jug. Live enzyme cultures break down urine, vomit and other organic messes, and the plant-based formula skips chlorine, ammonia and dyes. The same liquid goes in the wash for pet bedding and cloth diapers, and Biokleen says carpet cleaning pros use it. It comes without a sprayer, and the lime scent can be strong.

FurryFreshness Strong Odor Eliminator suits people who want no added fragrance and no enzymes at all. It's sold for urine, vomit and feces on carpet, hardwood, tile, mattresses and laundry, and FurryFreshness claims it handles new and old stains without scrubbing. Let treated spots dry fully before pets walk on them. It's expensive for one bottle, and pet owners split on whether the results justify the cost.

Dog beds, blankets and harnesses that still smell after a normal wash call for Active Pet Laundry Detergent. It's an unscented enzyme powder that works in high-efficiency washers, and a scoop or two handles a load. For heavily soiled bedding, the maker suggests soaking it for a couple of hours first. It's also gentle enough for your own clothes. It only cleans washable fabric, so spots on carpet and sofas still need a spray.